CONCORD – Small Business owners, representatives of local economic development organizations and trade groups, and community leaders are invited to join the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Ombudsman Brian Castro to discuss federal regulatory issues impacting small businesses on Friday, September 13, at the New Hampshire Education Assistance Foundation Network Organization in Concord.

The forum will begin at 10 a.m. at the NHHEAF’s building located at 3 Barrell Court, in Concord. This event will give the local business community a chance to openly voice their concerns about unfair regulatory enforcement, excessive fines, retaliation, disproportionately burdensome regulations, and other regulatory issues involving federal agencies.

“Too often small business owners can face an uneven playing field because of regulations that were written with major corporations in mind,” said SBA National Ombudsman Brian Castro. “We are firmly committed to providing a receptive forum and a responsive, impartial process for small businesses to voice concerns about enforcement of federal regulations, especially those that create barriers to small business longevity and growth.”

Comments and concerns raised at the regulatory fairness forum will be directed to the appropriate federal agency for a fairness review in an effort to reduce undue regulatory burdens, while helping small businesses succeed.

This event is also an opportunity for the small business community to come away with a better understanding of the resources available to small business owners and entrepreneurs through the Office of the National Ombudsman.

The Concord small business forum is open to the public. Those interested in attending may contact José Méndez at the Office of the National Ombudsman at jose.mendez@sba.gov, or by phone at (202) 205-6178 before the meeting. To learn more about the Office of the National Ombudsman, visit www.sba.gov/ombudsman.